The Early Bird: Top New Album Releases 9-15-23 – 9-21-23 Reviewed
The Devil Always Collects – Brian Seltzer – the Stray Cat is like the purveyor of a lost art form on this nothing but fun rockabilly album – B+
Bigger Houses – Dan + Shay – the thing about this duo is that when they are on their game they are kings of melodic guitar strum; the hooks cascade, the melodies are just genius but not all of it. When the songs don’t hit that sweet spot, they are bores of the first order – B
Relentless – Pretenders – the worst thing that ever happened to Hynde was “I’ll Stand By You” -it convinced her she really was middle of the road and the slop has infected every album since. Including this enormously tedious album which even if it happens to work, “the Copa”, still sucks – C
Who’s Next : Life House (Super Deluxe) – The Who – the rock opera never completed meets the AOR masterpiece with 109 tracks, including a concert at the Young Vic dating back to 1971 and a recreation of Lifehouse – A
Bluegrass – Willie Nelson – this is Willie as I love him (on the rare occasions when I do), that twangy voice and banjoing songs with amazing creativity for a 90 year old – A
